Neurosurgery
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To evaluate the reclosure-promoting capacity of a neural stem cell line (F3) and a human bone marrow stem cell line (B10) injected into the amniotic cavity of spinal open neural tube defects (ONTDs) of chick embryos of Hamburger and Hamilton stage 18 or 19. ⋯ The results confirmed that B10 cells enhance reclosure of ONTDs by covering and protecting neural tissues, not by direct cell incorporation. The lack of reclosure capacity in the F3 group may be related to the poor survival of F3 cells in the amniotic fluid.
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Paradoxical transtentorial herniation is a rare but well-documented complication of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage in patients with large decompressive craniectomies. However, brain sagging in the absence of CSF hypovolemia has not been previously reported. ⋯ Although rare, paradoxical herniation in the setting of a large craniectomy defect may occur in the absence of CSF drainage. This entity should be suspected whenever transtentorial herniation occurs in conjunction with direct or indirect signs of intracranial hypotension. Placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position should be attempted, because this simple maneuver may turn out to be life-saving.
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Comparative Study
Thermal comparison of novel bipolar forceps in bovine liver.
The goal of this work was to determine whether bipolar forceps using a novel heat pipe thermal regulation technology result in decreased thermal damage of untargeted collateral tissue compared with traditional bipolar forceps. ⋯ In an ex vivo study of bovine liver bipolar coagulation, forceps that incorporated heat pipe technology limited thermal spread and reduced the extent of unintended injury to untargeted collateral tissue.
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A precise definition of ventricular enlargement is important in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus as well as in assessing central atrophy. The Evans index (EI), a linear ratio between the maximal frontal horn width and the cranium diameter, has been extensively used as an indirect marker of ventricular volume (VV). With modern imaging techniques, brain volume can be directly measured. ⋯ VV (or RVV) and the EI reflect different properties. The exclusive use of EI in clinical studies as a marker of enlarged ventricles should be questioned. We suggest that the definition of dilated ventricles in white elderly individuals be defined as VV>77 mL or RVV>4.96 %. Future studies should compare intracranial volumes with clinical characteristics and prognosis.
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We examined reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by intravital fluorescence imaging. ⋯ ROS production increased in the early period of reperfusion but not during ischemia, which was location selective, being significant in the areas adjacent to the arteries. Our method was useful for investigating intracellular in situ ROS production.